25 October 2011
Workout ADD (and Why You Shouldn’t Try to Cure It!)
I’ve come to terms with something lately: I kind of have workout ADD.
When I started this blog, I was training for a 10K and then a half marathon. Running was my main form of exercise, and I genuinely enjoyed it. But pretty quickly after my half, I totally stopped running and didn’t miss it at all. Lately, I’ll strictly strength train for weeks without much cardio but suddenly forgo those workouts for my first yoga classes and a Zumba obsession.
I’ve realized that I just don’t like doing the same form of exercise forever, and I’m okay with it. Why? Because movement is movement. Though I do think it’s important to make sure you’re doing weight-bearing exercises rather than endless cardio, beyond that, I truly believe that physical activity is physical activity.
Your body doesn’t care what you do — it just wants to move. And if a certain form of movement is more pleasurable to you than another, by all means, EMBRACE IT!
When my clients get in a workout rut, my advice is usually to JUST MOVE for half an hour a few times a week. Set a timer, do a dance, run around the block, do jumping jacks, do exactly what you feel like in the moment (as long as you’re in motion!). It’s easy to get intimidated by complex workout plans and intricate routines, but trust me: your body doesn’t know that you’re following a specific plan. Only you do. So if you can get over the need to follow a specific routine, you might find it freeing!
On the other hand, there are people who thrive on structure, routine, and monotony. I respect that, too! As long as you make sure your body doesn’t get too familiar with any one thing (it can lose its effectiveness), you can do the same style of workout over and over if you so choose.
As for me, I’ve come to terms with my workout ADD. As long as I’m moving, I’m not going to be too finicky about what exactly I’m doing. Right now, I’m still enjoying Zumba, with a few strength training videos thrown in. I’m also searching for other classes that will satisfy my appetite for variety. I’ll do random circuit workouts, or take a long walk.
There are days when I think that if I tried a more regimented routine, I could build more muscle or endurance. But I know I’d be sacrificing some of the enjoyment I get from working out, and then I’d be back where I started. And that’s just not worth it to me.
So, do you have workout ADD? Or does the thought of a new form of exercise scare you?
